2022 George Main Stakes preview & betting strategy | September 17
| What | George Main Stakes 2022 |
| Where | Royal Randwick – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 |
| When | Saturday, September 17, 2022 | Race 7 | 3:15pm AEST |
| Prizemoney | $1,000,000 |
| Distance | 1600m |
| Status | Group 1 |
| Conditions | Weight For Age |
| 2021 Winner | Verry Elleegant (2) | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (57kg) |
The 2022 George Main Stakes (1600m) highlights the massive 10-race program at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon, where a field of 10 have assembled to battle it out for the $1 million. Eight of the combatants have already saluted at Group 1 level, yet online bookmakers have it down to last-start Winx Stakes winner Anamoe ($2.30) and 2022 All-Star Mile winner Zaaki ($3.20).
Who will etch their name alongside some of the greats of the turf in the 2022 George Main Stakes? Keep reading for HorseBetting’s full runner-by-runner preview and $100 betting strategy.
1. ZAAKI (7)
7yoG | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Tommy Berry (59kg)
What else is there to say about Zaaki that hasn’t already been said? The seven-year-old gelding resumed with an all-the-way victory in the Tramway Stakes on a Heavy 10 where his pure class prevailed in his 1.81-length triumph over Icebath at 1400m. He steps up to the 1600m second-up from a spell at the mile, just as he did when he saluted in the All Star Mile at Flemington earlier in the year. From the wide barrier, we expect Tommy Berry to roll forward on the son of Leroidesanimaux where he looks to gain a fairly uncontested lead. He hasn’t necessarily had the best association with Randwick winning just twice from five starts, but if there are to be any chinks in Anamoe’s armour, Zaaki looks to be the only known challenger in the George Main.
2. MAXIMAL (9)
4yoH | T: John O’Shea | J: Sam Clipperton (59kg)
Despite beating Zaaki home in the Doomben Cup earlier in the year, the John O’Shea-trained Maximal is sure to find this a touch too hard. He is a horse screaming out for 2000m+ and considering he is yet to win from five starts when fresh, the $101 on offer with online betting sites looks to be an appropriate price for the son of Galileo.
3. Anamoe (8)
4yo H | T: James Cummings | J: James McDonald (59kg)
Is Anamoe the best horse in the land? Potentially. If he wins the George Main Stakes on Saturday, that debate may be all but over. The four-year-old returned with a dominant first-up win in the Winx Stakes and considering he is yet to miss the top three in four second-up efforts, he looks to be a deserving favourite in Saturday’s Group 1. A notable form factor is the fact James McDonald sticks aboard the Godolphin galloper rather than market rival Zaaki. Barrier eight is a slight concern, based on the fact he will be looking to run on from the rear of the field and concedes Zaaki a tactical advantage. However, the mile at Randwick will be right in Anamoe’s wheelhouse with the run under his belt and as long as he isn’t too far off the speed on the turn, we expect Anamoe to finish the better on his way to a start in a Cox Plate next month.
4. CONVERGE (10)
4yoG | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (58.5kg)
Simply put a line through Converge’s run in the Tramway Stakes when beaten close to 10 lengths by Zaaki when resuming from a five-month spell. The four-year-old gelding has hardly shined on heavy surfaces, so the fact we might gain an improving track on Saturday, should see a sharp form reversal. He’ll roll forward under barrier 10 and if he doesn’t take up the running, will most likely settle outside Zaaki throughout. He relishes the mile, a trip he has three wins and a minor placing at from five starts and at $31 with Ladbrokes, looks to be one at a price that can threaten the likes of Anamoe and Zaaki in Saturday’s George Main.
5. PROFONDO (2)
4yoH | T: Richard Litt | J: Brenton Avdulla (58.5kg)
Richard Litt’s four-year-old Profondo was an eye-catcher first up in the Winx Stakes when beaten under two lengths from Anamoe. He travelled three wide with no cover on that day, but never shirked the task. He was another you can rule a line through coming out of the Tramway Stakes when beaten nearly four lengths. He gets back to an improving track which should only benefit his chances of at least being competitive. From barrier two, Brenton Avdulla will look to give him the suck run in transit and if the track does firm up and he is anywhere near his best, Profondo is a genuine trifecta chance, but one you must take on trust for anything more.
6. DUAIS (5)
5yoM | T: Edward Cummings | J: Joshua Parr (57kg)
Is there a better mare in the country than Duais? Unlikely. However, the current Caulfield Cup favourite has bigger goals in mind than the 1600m of the George Main Stakes. Despite being beaten 7.5 lengths in the Memsie Stakes, she was never there to win, more to use that as a pipe opener. She did just that, recording the fastest last 200m split in a race that saw I’m Thunderstruck and Cascadian flash home. Look for her to be getting warm late in this, but third-up over 2000m is where we’d prefer to back Duais.
7. MONTEFILIA (6)
5yoM | T: David Payne | J: Jason Collett (59kg)
Having won the Ranvet Stakes in the autumn, there is no questioning the class the David Payne-trained Montefilia brings to a race at weight-for-age level. However, much like fellow star mare Duais, she is one who is looking for 2000m+ and we expect the $26 currently being bet at Neds, to blow out the closer we get to a jump on Saturday.
8. ICEBATH (4)
6yoM | T: Brad Widdup | J: TBC (57kg)
It looks likely that Brad Widdup will scratch his mare Icebath from the Group 1 George Main Stakes and take her place in the Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle on Friday with Kerrin McEvoy booked.
9. FANGIRL (3)
4yoM | T: Chris Waller | J: Hugh Bowman (56.5kg)
This Chris Waller-trained Fangirl comes to the George Main on the back of a superb first up run when finishing second behind Anamoe in the Winx Stakes. The Sebring mare produced the best final 600m of the race and has since gone back to the trials where she was given a quiet time of it. She is another who will appreciate the improving track and despite alreadt being a Group 1 winner, we expect she might find this a touch too hard and would rather back her in a race against fellow mares. She has to go in all trifectas and first fours just in case, but the $10 quote looks a touch too short.
10. HINGED (1)
4yoM | T: Chris Waller | J: Hugh Bowman (56.5kg)
The Chris Waller-trained Hinged never really saw clear air in the Winx Stakes upon resumption when beaten 2.5 lengths in the Winx Stakes. The four-year-old mare is one that would be wanting the rain to come and if it doesn’t, it is hard to see how she features in the finish in a race that possesses the likes of Zaaki and Anamoe.
2022 George Main Stakes selections & best bet
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2
ANAMOE
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1
ZAAKI
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4
CONVERGE
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9
FANGIRL
| George Main Stakes $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $100 win | Anamoe ($2.30 @ Neds) |